It's times like this that I wish Franzen knew how to fight so we could kill this conversation for good. Holland wants to add a 40 year old first-ballot hall of famer in a 3rd line scoring role for around a million bucks and people get all up in arms ("we're hindering the development of our kids!!" etc). Now a 35 year old washed up scrapper gets a tryout and people get excited. Downey's an awesome guy and he deserves to play hockey somewhere, but it's not worth the roster spot for him to be a pylon and take on the other team's goon once every 4 games. If you're going to pick a vet as your 13th forward, why not go with Maltby?

Simple, because Maltby doesn't scrap... and not much else good either. Maltby is pretty useless nowadays.

Side note: It wasn't a dirty hit or anything but it is so nice to see Downey step up in that game. I loved to see Babs yelling too! Babs got heart and passion.

"Joey (Kocur) has no fear" -Lyndon Byers"Empty-net goals are for homos" -Al Iafrate

An old washed up fighter who will add nothing but a single attribute to a team that needs minute eaters not bench fodder... If this is what people want can't the wings just send a player to sit in the locker room for 10 mins every 5th game? It'll be the exact same, because the most time on the scoresheet down will ever have is penalty time.

I have no problem with signing him to a minor-league contract, or 2-way with the understanding that he will basically spend the entire season in GR, but at his age, and with the logjam we already have, there's no excuse for him to use up a roster spot, even with as much as I love Downey... now, as an injury call up, I'd have no problem with it, if he's in prime shape that is...

An old washed up fighter who will add nothing but a single attribute to a team that needs minute eaters not bench fodder... If this is what people want can't the wings just send a player to sit in the locker room for 10 mins every 5th game? It'll be the exact same, because the most time on the scoresheet down will ever have is penalty time.

Other than a solid 6th d-man (which hopefully Kindl/Meech/Janik can fulfill), toughness is the one thing that the Wings are missing. Abby would not be the toughest player on any other team in the league. Hopefully Downey has improved his skating enough to play a regular shift. I would be happy to see him in ~40 games with the Wings this year (although more is always better- just not realistic).

He could use a good "conditioning stint" with the Griffins. I wouldnt call Downey a no talent good either, he knows enough about the game to go out there put in a solid shift and not make mistakes. Much like May last year, you know he wont be putting up any points but he wouldnt be a liability. The DHE line was awesome last year, and is expected to be our 4th this year. They didnt really put up much offense but were just tons of fun to watch and were an energy line. If Downey replaced Draper on that line I can only see it becoming an even better energy line and more fun to watch. If he still has potential to earn a spot on the roster I would love the signing, especially if he is just taking playing time away from Draper and not the kids, or is in because of injuries.

Glad to see Wings give him a tryout out of respect for a good guy... but he won't ever play in the Winged Wheel ever again.

For those who say he "adds team toughness", I don't get. Because he likely won't ever suit up (too far down the depth chart behind Miller, Eaves, Ritola, Meech), and certainly won't EVER play in the playoffs.

Love Downey, but not sure why people are getting excited over this, he won't ever make the team.